In pictures: Easter around the world
AP From Orthodox Palm Sunday celebrations in Romania to Easter Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Christians celebrated Easter over the weekend. Here are some more images from across the globe… Romanian Orthodox priests and believers stand outside the Patriarchal Cathedral after an Orthodox Palm Sunday pilgrimage in Bucharest, Romania, on Saturday, […]
Russian Church shares blame for “crimes” in Ukraine, says Ecumenical Patriarch
Vilnius, Lithuania Reuters The spiritual head of the world’s Orthodox Christians said on Wednesday that Russia’s powerful Orthodox Church shared responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine but that he stood ready to help in Russia’s postwar “spiritual regeneration”. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s comments are a rebuke for Russian Patriarch Kirill, whose full-throated blessing for Moscow’s invasion […]
Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch plans Lithuanian branch, in blow to Moscow
Vilnius, Lithuania Reuters The spiritual head of Orthodox Christians worldwide said on Tuesday he would work with Lithuanian authorities to establish a new branch in the Baltic nation to ensure that believers are no longer under the sole supervision of Moscow. In 2019, Patriarch Bartholomew infuriated Moscow by recognising the newly established Orthodox Church of […]
Ukraine, West denounce Russian referendum plans for occupied regions
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Russian-installed leaders in occupied areas of four Ukrainian regions on Tuesday set out plans for referendums on joining Russia, a challenge to the West that could sharply escalate the war and sparked condemnation from Ukraine and its allies. “The Russians can do whatever they want. It will not change anything,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister […]
Essay: Ukraine war prompts Baltic states to remove Soviet memorials
Russian and East European studies scholar DMITRIJS ANDREJEVS looks – in an article published on The Conversation – at why Baltic states are removing Soviet memorials…
Lithuania will allow sanctioned Russian goods trade to Kaliningrad
Vilnius, LithuaniaReuters European Union member Lithuania will allow sanctioned Russian goods to transit its territory on their way to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, its Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, reversing its policy after new European Commission guidelines. The new guidelines on Wednesday followed weeks of tension among Moscow, Lithuania and the European Union that tested Europe’s […]
Moscow fumes over Lithuania rail ban to Russian region; actor Ben Stiller visits Ukraine refugees
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Russia warned Lithuania on Tuesday that it would face measures of a “serious negative impact” for blocking some shipments by rail to Moscow’s Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad, in its latest dispute over Western sanctions imposed on the country for the war in Ukraine. Russian forces and separatists in eastern Ukraine made further […]
Lithuanian Catholic bishops call for scrapping of same-sex partnership bill
Vilnius, LithuaniaReuters Lithuanian Catholic bishops have called on politicians to vote down proposed same-sex partnership legislation, quoting words used by Pope Francis to argue that civil unions distort the concept of marriage and family. Lithuania’s parliament last month voted to accept for further debate a draft bill legalising same-sex civil partnerships, after voting down a […]
Lithuania bans using letter ‘Z’ in protest over Russia’s war in Ukraine
Vilnius, Lithuania Reuters Lithuania’s parliament on Tuesday voted to ban public displays of the letter “Z”, the black and orange ribbon of St George, and other symbols seen as expressing support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian military vehicles in Ukraine are prominently marked with the letter “Z”, and it has started appearing on social […]
Significant Sights: Lithuania’s world-famous Hill Of Crosses attracts visitors to ponder, pray for Ukraine
MICHAEL RAY SMITH, in an article first published on Religion News Service, looks at the history of Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses and how it’s become a focal point for those praying for Ukraine…